BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- William Dudley Geer, born on Christmas Day, 1922, son of the late William Fred Geer and Ida Fuller Geer, died on October 3, 2003. A native of Augusta, he lived in Birmingham for 43 years. He was a Life Deacon and active member of the First Baptist Church of Birmingham. A veteran of WWII, he served in the European theatre. He graduated from Stetson University with his B.S. and M.A. degree; then he received his Doctorate in Business Administration from the School of Business at Indiana University. Fully dedicated to Christian Education, he taught at Mars Hill College, Mississippi College, Stetson University, and joined the Samford University faculty in 1959. He served as the first Dean of Samfords School of Business from 1966 to 1990. During his career, he was active in many professional organizations, serving as President of the Southern Business Administration Association; Consultant to the Alabama Banking Association; the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and other businesses, Dr. Geer also held the CLU designation from the American College of Life Underwriters. He served as a trustee and a Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was a member of Birmingham Rotary Club. During his retirement he volunteered at the American Red Cross, the Downtown Firehouse Mission, the United Way, Church Building Projects, and the Miles College Accounting Advisory Council. Hobbies include golf, history, reading, traveling, and gardening. Dr. Geer is survived by his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth Durner Geer; one son, John William Geer (Lynn), Jacksonville, Fla.; two daughters, Debbie Wilke (Edmond) DeLand, Fla. and Margaret Roland (David) Rome, Ga.; two brothers, Calvin Geer, Rev. Robert S. Geer; sister, Margaret Geer Sledge; and nine grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Birmingham, New Beacon Hospice, or the School of Business at Samford University. Memorial services will be held at First Baptist Church of Birmingham, Lakeshore Drive on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at 10 a.m. with visitation in the Parlor at 9:15 a.m. Burial at Elmwood Cemetery with family members attending. Services will be under the direction of Ridouts Valley Chapel, 879-3401 in Homewood. Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com